tx2step
Senior Member
- Location
- North Texas, DFW area
How can you tell the difference between ENT and Innerduct? I can't read the markings on whatever it is, and I'm not that familiar with innerduct. This stuff is corrugated, blue and looks like 1-1/2" ENT to me, but I'm not really sure.
Maybe in this case it doesn't matter?
Whatever it is, it is installed in some exposed locations in a 5 story VA hospital. Mainly exposed from the tops of some panels up into a suspended ceiling, which leaves about 24" to 36" of it exposed (in a number of locations). It's also exposed in some mechanical rooms and electrical closets. It's not just stub-ups, it's a complete end-to-end raceway system run from panel to panel.
The building is fully fire sprinkled.
If it's ENT, then I think this exposed use would be prohibited by 2005 NEC 362.12(7) since this building is over 3 stories.
I think that earlier NEC versions would have also prohibited it from being installed above the suspended ceilings, too, unless the ceiling tile had a 15 minute Finish Rating (fire resistance rating), which I don't think that standard ceiling tile has?
This raceway has fiber optic cable installed in it (and in some cases it also has some separate power limited fire alarm cables installed as well). Installation of this fiber optic cable in some form of conduit (type was unspecified) was required by the VA hospital. They're just not sure that what got installed meets code.
I don't think it will matter, but the fiber optic cable that's installed in this raceway is nonconductive type OFNR.
If it is Innerduct, then it looks to me like 770.12(B) requires that the Innerduct be treated as ENT? Wouldn't this prohibit it from being installed exposed under the same conditions as where exposed ENT is prohibited?
Also, the connectors used to attach it to the panels are EMT set-screw connectors. That can't be kosher on this stuff.
Also, it's supported to the various structures with tywraps, not by regular conduit straps. Is this normal?
I'd post a few pictures, but I haven't a clue as to how to do that. If someone would care to enlighten me on how to do that, I'll post some.
Anyway, the question at this point is -- is this raceway installed in compliance with NEC, and if not, what are the violations. The VA wants to know, and there is no AHJ in this case (except for the VA itself, and they don't know).
What do you guys think?
Edited to fix spelling
[ September 01, 2005, 09:55 PM: Message edited by: tx2step ]
Maybe in this case it doesn't matter?
Whatever it is, it is installed in some exposed locations in a 5 story VA hospital. Mainly exposed from the tops of some panels up into a suspended ceiling, which leaves about 24" to 36" of it exposed (in a number of locations). It's also exposed in some mechanical rooms and electrical closets. It's not just stub-ups, it's a complete end-to-end raceway system run from panel to panel.
The building is fully fire sprinkled.
If it's ENT, then I think this exposed use would be prohibited by 2005 NEC 362.12(7) since this building is over 3 stories.
I think that earlier NEC versions would have also prohibited it from being installed above the suspended ceilings, too, unless the ceiling tile had a 15 minute Finish Rating (fire resistance rating), which I don't think that standard ceiling tile has?
This raceway has fiber optic cable installed in it (and in some cases it also has some separate power limited fire alarm cables installed as well). Installation of this fiber optic cable in some form of conduit (type was unspecified) was required by the VA hospital. They're just not sure that what got installed meets code.
I don't think it will matter, but the fiber optic cable that's installed in this raceway is nonconductive type OFNR.
If it is Innerduct, then it looks to me like 770.12(B) requires that the Innerduct be treated as ENT? Wouldn't this prohibit it from being installed exposed under the same conditions as where exposed ENT is prohibited?
Also, the connectors used to attach it to the panels are EMT set-screw connectors. That can't be kosher on this stuff.
Also, it's supported to the various structures with tywraps, not by regular conduit straps. Is this normal?
I'd post a few pictures, but I haven't a clue as to how to do that. If someone would care to enlighten me on how to do that, I'll post some.
Anyway, the question at this point is -- is this raceway installed in compliance with NEC, and if not, what are the violations. The VA wants to know, and there is no AHJ in this case (except for the VA itself, and they don't know).
What do you guys think?
Edited to fix spelling
[ September 01, 2005, 09:55 PM: Message edited by: tx2step ]
